Nestable produce container

ABSTRACT

A produce container comprises a basket portion and a closure portion, which are hingedly secured to one another to be relatively movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The container can be secured in the closed configuration by at least one tab projecting distally from a front edge of a basket portion peripheral lip or closure portion peripheral lip, which tab is received within a corresponding slot defined inwardly of the front edge of the other peripheral lip. Each slot extends into a collocated recess in the outer surface of that peripheral lip, and each tab has an outwardly extending locking projection which, in the closed configuration, engages a corresponding recess engagement surface. Each locking projection terminates inwardly of the outer surface of the front edge of the respective peripheral lip and each tab terminates below the upper surface of the respective peripheral lip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/323,190 filed on Nov. 25, 2008, the teachings of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers, and more particularly tocontainers for produce.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fresh produce, including fruits such as strawberries, is often packedinto individual containers, for sale in a retail marketplace. Forexample, strawberries may be packed into one quart containers for sale.An example of such a prior art container is indicated generally by thereference numeral 1 in FIG. 11. Such containers have typically compriseda basket portion 2 hingedly coupled to a closure portion 3, which havebeen lockable by securing locking tabs 4, which project downwardly froma first peripheral lip 5 on the closure portion 3, within lockingbrackets 6 located on the outside of a second peripheral lip 7 on thebasket portion 2. A lid 8, typically made from clear plastic, may besecured to a terminal rim 9 on the closure portion 3.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a produce container.The produce container comprises a basket portion, the basket portioncomprising a base and four basket portion walls extending between thebase and a basket portion peripheral lip. Each basket portion wall issecured to each adjacent basket portion wall. The produce containerfurther comprises a closure portion, the closure portion comprising aterminal rim and four closure portion walls extending between theterminal rim and a closure portion peripheral lip. Each closure portionwall is secured to each adjacent closure portion wall. The basketportion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip arehingedly secured to one another at respective rear edges thereof so thatthe basket portion and the closure portion are relatively movablebetween an open configuration and a closed configuration in which thebasket portion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip arein registration with one another. One of the basket portion peripherallip and the closure portion peripheral lip has at least one tabprojecting distally from a front edge thereof, with each tab includingan outwardly extending locking projection. The front edge of the otherof the basket portion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripherallip includes at least one receiving slot defined inwardly of the outersurface of the front edge for receiving a corresponding tab. Each suchreceiving slot extends into a collocated recess defined in the outersurface of the front edge, with each such recess having a recessengagement surface. When the basket portion and the closure portion arein the closed configuration, the at least one tab is received within theat least one corresponding receiving slot so that each respectivelocking projection extends into the respective recess and an engagementsurface on the respective locking projection cooperates with therespective recess engagement surface to secure the container in theclosed configuration. Each respective locking projection terminatesinwardly of the outer surface of the front edge of the other of thebasket portion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip,and each tab terminates spaced from the distal surface of the other ofthe basket portion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripherallip.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one tab projects upwardly fromthe front edge of the basket portion peripheral lip, and the at leastone receiving slot is defined in the outer surface of the front edge ofthe closure portion peripheral lip and terminates below the uppersurface of the closure portion peripheral lip.

In an embodiment, each at least one tab projects upwardly from aposition spaced inwardly from the outer surface of the basket portionperipheral lip, and each locking projection terminates inwardly of theouter surface of the basket portion peripheral lip. In a particularembodiment, the receiving slots are defined in a lower surface of thefront edge of the closure portion peripheral lip and extend through theclosure portion peripheral lip into their respective recesses. In a yetmore particular embodiment, the closure portion peripheral lip includesbacking regions of increased thickness projecting inwardly, and thebacking regions are collocated with the receiving slots and comprisepart of the inner surface of the front edge of the closure portionperipheral lip.

In an embodiment, the at least one tab comprises two tabs spaced fromone another and the at least one receiving slot comprises two receivingslots spaced from one another. In a particular embodiment, each tab hasa height of approximately 5 millimeters, measured from an upper surfaceof the basket portion peripheral lip, the front edge of the closureportion peripheral lip has a height of approximately 7 millimeters,measured from the lower surface of the closure portion peripheral lip tothe upper surface of the closure portion peripheral lip, and therecesses extend downwardly from the upper surface of the closure portionperipheral lip by approximately 4.5 millimeters.

In an embodiment, the basket portion walls each comprise a plurality ofindividual substantially parallel basket portion wall members extendingbetween the base and the basket portion peripheral lip, and the closureportion walls each comprise a plurality of individual substantiallyparallel closure portion wall members extending between the terminal rimand the closure portion peripheral lip.

In an embodiment, the basket portion and the closure portioncollectively define approximately a one-quart volume.

In one embodiment, the produce container further comprises a lidremovably secured to the terminal rim. In a particular embodiment, thelid comprises a substantially square, substantially planar coveringportion having four edges, with four spacing walls depending downwardlyfrom the edges of the covering portion, with each spacing wallcontinuing into an outwardly extending upper support surface which issubstantially parallel to the covering portion so that there are fourupper support surfaces. The four upper support surfaces are,collectively, co-extensive with the upper surface of the terminal rim ofthe produce container, and each upper support surface has definedtherein a plurality of downwardly extending upper engagement fingers.Each upper support surface continues into a substantially downwardlyextending side wall so that there are four such side walls, with theside walls terminating in a generally outwardly extending peripheralskirt, and each side wall has a plurality of inwardly extending sidewall engagement fingers. The upper engagement fingers are verticallyspaced from the side wall engagement fingers by a distance correspondingto the vertical height of the terminal rim, and the lid is removablysecured to the container by an interference fit of the terminal rimbetween the upper engagement fingers and the side wall engagementfingers. In a specific embodiment, the upper engagement fingers and theside wall engagement fingers are in an offset, opposed relationship sothat each upper engagement finger is vertically spaced above, andhorizontally positioned between, two side wall engagement fingers, andeach side wall engagement finger is vertically spaced below, andhorizontally positioned between, two upper engagement fingers. In astill more specific embodiment, two spaced-apart upper engagementfingers are disposed on each upper support surface, and one upperengagement finger is positioned at each corner junction joining adjacentupper support surfaces, and each side wall has three inwardly extendingside wall engagement fingers, one side wall engagement finger beingpositioned approximately at a midpoint of the respective side wall, andone side wall engagement finger being positioned at each end of therespective side wall.

In an embodiment, each of the side wall engagement fingers has agenerally triangular shape, including a downwardly sloping upper surfaceand an upwardly sloping lower surface.

In an embodiment, the covering portion has a plurality of aperturesdefined therein adjacent the edges of the covering portion. Theapertures are positioned so as to define a corner region of the coveringportion that is free of apertures, and the lid includes a generallytriangular adhesive label applied to the corner region.

In particular embodiment, a quantity of produce, including but notlimited to strawberries, is disposed within the produce container.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a lid for aproduce container, as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following description in which reference is made to the appendeddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary produce container accordingto an aspect of the present invention, shown in an open configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary produce container of FIG.1, shown in transition between the open configuration in FIG. 1 and aclosed configuration as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary produce container of FIG.1, shown in the closed configuration;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the exemplary produce container of FIG.1, showing an exemplary lid according to an aspect of the presentinvention positioned for installation on the exemplary produce containerof FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exemplary produce container of FIG.1, with the exemplary lid of FIG. 5 secured thereon;

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7A-7A in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7B-7B in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a side view of the exemplary produce container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8B is a side view of a plurality of exemplary produce containerssuch as the exemplary produce container of FIG. 1, nested together;

FIG. 9A is a top view of a presently preferred embodiment of a producecontainer according to an aspect of the present invention, showingdimension markings;

FIG. 9B is a front view of the produce container of FIG. 9A, showingdimension markings;

FIG. 9C is a side view of the produce container of FIG. 9A, showingdimension markings;

FIG. 10A is a top view of a presently preferred embodiment of a lid fora produce container such as the produce container of FIG. 9A, showingdimension markings;

FIG. 10B is a front view of the lid of FIG. 10A, showing dimensionmarkings; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a prior art produce container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Prior art produce containers, such as the prior art produce container 1described in the context of FIG. 11, are generally shipped in an openconfiguration, nested together in a stack, with each closure portion 3nested inside the closure portion 3 of the container below it in thestack, and each basket portion 2 similarly nested inside the basketportion 2 of the container below. However, the locking brackets 6located on the outside of the second peripheral lip 7 on the basketportion 2 interfere with the fit of the nested container stacks insidethe standard boxes in which they are shipped, since these boxes aredesigned to accommodate the shape of the first and second peripherallips 5, 7, and generally do not accommodate the locking brackets 6protruding outwardly from the second peripheral lip 7.

Before turning to FIGS. 1 to 10B, it should be noted that, in order tofacilitate readability of the Figures, not all elements of theillustrated embodiment are labeled in all Figures, and elements havegenerally been labeled in those Figures in which they are best visible.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 to 3, an exemplary produce containeraccording to an aspect of the present invention is shown generally at10. The produce container 10 comprises a basket portion 12 and a closureportion 14. The produce container 10 may be made from a flexible,resilient material, such as a suitable combination of polypropylene (PP)and polyethylene (PE) plastics, and in one embodiment is made from amaterial comprising approximately 85% polypropylene and approximately15% polyethylene is used. In the exemplary embodiment, the basketportion 12 and the closure portion 14 collectively define approximatelya one-quart volume.

The basket portion 12 comprises a base 20, and four basket portionwalls, indicated generally by the reference numerals 24A, 24B, 24C and24D, extending between the base 20 and a basket portion peripheral lip28. As can be seen, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the basketportion walls 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D each comprise a plurality ofrespective individual substantially parallel basket portion wall members32A, 32B, 32C and 32D extending between the base 20 and the basketportion peripheral lip 28. Each of the individual substantially parallelbasket portion wall members 32A, 32B, 32C and 32D is secured to eachadjacent substantially parallel basket portion wall member 32A, 32B, 32Cand 32D by way of a respective lateral reinforcing member 36A, 36B, 36Cand 36D extending along the width of the respective basket portion wall24A, 24B, 24C and 24D substantially perpendicularly to the basketportion wall members 32A, 32B, 32C and 32D. It will be appreciated thatwhere a container 10 according to an aspect of the present invention isintegrally formed, the lateral reinforcing members 36A, 36B, 36C and 36Dmay comprise a plurality of individual webs interconnecting eachadjacent basket portion wall member 32A, 32B, 32C and 32D, which, takentogether along with the relevant portions of the basket portion wallmembers 32A, 32B, 32C and 32D, form the respective lateral reinforcingmembers 36A, 36B, 36C and 36D. In other words, the lateral reinforcingmembers 36A, 36B, 36C and 36D may be comprised of material alsocomprising part of the respective basket portion wall members 32A, 32B,32C and 32D. Additionally, it will be seen that each basket portion wall24A, 24B, 24C, 24D is secured to each adjacent basket portion wall 24A,24B, 24C, 24D. In particular, corner members 40AB, 40BC, 40CD and 40DAextending between the base 20 and the basket portion peripheral lip 28define the junctions, respectively, between adjacent basket portionwalls 24A and 24B, 24B and 24C, 24C and 24D, and 24D and 24A, and thelateral reinforcing members 36A, 36B, 36C and 36D continue into therespective corner members 40AB, 40BC, 40CD and 40DA.

In the exemplary embodiment 10 illustrated herein, the base 20 comprisesa substantially square central portion 44, four base edge portions 46A,46B, 46C and 46D, and two sets of substantially parallel basecross-members 48AC and 48BD, with the first set of base cross-members48AC being substantially perpendicular to the second set of basecross-members 48BD. The first set of base cross-members 48AC extendsbetween the base edge portions 46A and 46C, and between the base edgeportion 46A and the central portion 44 and between the base edge portion46C and the central portion 44. Similarly, the second set of basecross-members 48BD extends between the base edge portions 46B and 46D,and between the base edge portion 46B and the central portion 44 andbetween the base edge portion 46D and the central portion 44. As can beseen, the sets of base cross-members 48AC and 48BD are interconnectedwith one another in a grid pattern. As can also be seen, the basketportion wall members 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D extend from respective base edgeportions 46A, 46B, 46C and 46D.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 to 3, the closure portion 14 comprises aterminal rim 60 and four closure portion walls 64A, 64B, 64C and 64Dextending between the terminal rim and a closure portion peripheral lip68. The closure portion walls 64A, 64B, 64C and 64D each comprise aplurality of respective individual substantially parallel closureportion wall members 70A, 70B, 70C and 70D extending between theterminal rim 60 and the closure portion peripheral lip 68. Each closureportion wall 64A, 64B, 64C, 64D is secured to each adjacent closureportion wall 64A, 64B, 64C, 64D. In particular, corner members 72AB,72BC, 72CD and 72DA extending between the terminal rim 60 and theclosure portion peripheral lip 68 define the junctions, respectively,between adjacent closure portion walls 64A and 64B, 64B and 64C, 64C and64D, and 64D and 64A.

It will be appreciated that in the above-described exemplaryconstruction, the basket portion walls 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D and theclosure portion walls 64A, 64B, 64C and 64D are not solid walls, butrather are mesh-type walls, with openings or spaces being definedbetween the adjacent basket portion wall members 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D andthe adjacent closure portion wall members 70A, 70B, 70C, 70D. Theopenings or spaces permit the produce to “breathe”, and of course shouldbe sufficiently small to permit the container 10 to retain therewithinthe produce it is being used to package. It will also be appreciatedthat the basket portion walls 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D and the closureportion walls 64A, 64B, 64C and 64D may be constructed in many otherways, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 to 3, the basket portion 12 and theclosure portion 14 are hingedly secured to one another. Moreparticularly, in the exemplary produce container 10, the basket portionperipheral lip 28 and the closure portion peripheral lip 68 are hingedlysecured to one another at respective rear edges thereof. In thisembodiment, the rear edge of the basket portion peripheral lip 28 is theportion thereof corresponding to the rear basket portion wall 24C, andthe rear edge of the closure portion peripheral lip 68 is the portionthereof corresponding to the rear closure portion wall 64C, and in theillustrated embodiment these are hingedly secured to one another by wayof two spaced-apart living hinges 80. The hinged connection between thebasket portion peripheral lip 28 and the closure portion peripheral lip68 enables the basket portion 12 and the closure portion 14 to be moved,relative to one another, between an open configuration, as shown in FIG.1, and a closed configuration in which the basket portion peripheral lip28 and the closure portion peripheral lip 68 are in registration withone another, as shown in FIG. 3.

The basket portion 12 and the closure portion 14 can be secured in theclosed configuration by way of an arrangement in which one or more tabsprojecting from one of the basket portion peripheral lip and the closureportion peripheral lip are received in corresponding receiving slots inthe other of the basket portion peripheral lip and the closure portionperipheral lip. Each tab includes an outwardly extending lockingprojection, and each receiving slot is defined inwardly of the outersurface of the front edge of the respective peripheral lip, and extendsinto a collocated recess defined in the outer surface of the front edgeof the respective peripheral lip for receiving the locking projection.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, tabs 84 project upwardlyfrom the front edge of the basket portion peripheral lip 28, andreceiving slots are defined in the outer surface of the front edge ofthe closure portion peripheral lip 68, as described further below.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 2, the basket portion peripheral lip28 has two spaced-apart tabs 84 projecting distally from a front edgethereof, with each tab 84 including an outwardly extending lockingprojection 86. Thus, when the produce container 10 rests on its base 20,the tabs 84 project upwardly. The front edge of the basket portionperipheral lip 28 is the portion thereof corresponding to the frontbasket portion wall 24A. While the illustrated embodiment shows the useof two tabs 84, one skilled in the art will appreciate, once informed bythe herein disclosure, that a single, centrally positioned tab, or morethan two tabs, may be used without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, the front edge of the closure portionperipheral lip 68 (that is, the portion thereof corresponding to thefront closure portion wall 64A) includes two spaced-apart receivingslots 90 (see FIG. 1) defined inwardly of an outer surface 92 of thefront edge of the closure portion peripheral lip 68. The receiving slots90 are located at positions on the front edge of the closure portionperipheral lip 68 corresponding to the positions of the tabs 84 on thefront edge of the basket portion peripheral lip 28, and are sized andshaped to receive a corresponding tab 84. Each receiving slot 90 extendsinto a collocated recess 94 defined in the outer surface 92 of the frontedge of the closure portion peripheral lip 68, and each recess 94 has arecess engagement surface 96. In the illustrated embodiment, thereceiving slots 90 are defined in a lower surface 98 of the front edgeof the closure portion peripheral lip 68 and extend upwardly through theclosure portion peripheral lip 68 into their respective recesses 94. Ascan best be seen in FIG. 1, the closure portion peripheral lip 68includes backing regions 97 which are collocated with the receivingslots 90, and form part of an inner surface 100 of the front edge of theclosure portion peripheral lip 68. The backing regions 97 are regions ofincreased thickness projecting inwardly, which provide structuralreinforcement for the receiving slots 90.

Referring now to FIG. 4, engagement of the tabs 84 with the receivingslots 90 and collocated recesses 94 when the basket portion 12 and theclosure portion 14 are in the closed configuration is illustrated ingreater detail. Each of the tabs 84 is received within a correspondingreceiving slot 90 so that the locking projection 86 on that tab 84extends into the respective recess 94. Each locking projection 86 has arounded upper surface 102 which facilitates insertion into and passagethrough the receiving slot 90 into the recess 94. Each lockingprojection 86 also has an engagement surface 104 on its underside, whichcooperates with the respective recess engagement surface 96 to securethe container 10 in the closed configuration. As can be seen, in theillustrated embodiment, when the produce container 10 is in the closedconfiguration, each locking projection 86 terminates inwardly of (i.e.does not extend beyond) the outer surface 92 of the front edge of theclosure portion peripheral lip, and each tab 84, including the lockingprojection thereof, terminates below (i.e. does not extend beyond) theupper surface 106 of the closure portion peripheral lip 68. Moreover, inthe illustrated embodiment each tab 84 projects upwardly from a positionspaced inwardly from the outer surface 108 of the front edge of thebasket portion peripheral lip 28, and each locking projection 86terminates inwardly of (i.e. does not extend beyond) the outer surface108 of the basket portion peripheral lip 28.

In other embodiments, one or more tabs may project distally from theclosure portion peripheral lip, and the receiving slots may be definedin the basket portion peripheral lip.

Reference is made now to FIGS. 5 and 6, showing a lid 500 which may beremovably secured to the terminal rim 60 of the exemplary container 10,which lid 500 is sized and shaped for such purpose. The lid 500 may bemade from a flexible, resilient material, such as clear polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) plastic.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 500 comprises a substantiallysquare (although the corners are rounded), substantially planar coveringportion 504 having four spacing walls 508 depending downwardly from theedges of the covering portion 504. Each of the spacing walls 508continues into an outwardly extending upper support surface 512 which issubstantially parallel to the covering portion 504. The four uppersupport surfaces 512 are, collectively, co-extensive with, and thereforeadapted to be supported by, the terminal rim 60 of the produce container10. The upper support surface 512 continues into four substantiallydownwardly extending side walls 516, which terminate in a generallyoutwardly extending peripheral skirt 520. The side walls 516 may not beexactly parallel to the spacing walls 508, and will typically have aslight angle corresponding to the shape of the closure portion 14 of thecontainer 10.

The upper support surfaces 512 have defined therein a plurality ofdownwardly extending upper engagement fingers 524. In the embodimentshown, two spaced-apart upper engagement fingers 524 are disposed oneach upper support surface 512, and one upper engagement finger 524 ispositioned at each rounded corner junction 526 joining adjacent uppersupport surfaces 512. When the lid 500 is secured to the terminal rim 60of the exemplary container 10, the upper engagement fingers 524 willengage the upper surface 120 of the terminal rim 60 so that the lid 500is supported thereon.

The side walls 516 each have a plurality of inwardly extending side wallengagement fingers 530. In the illustrated embodiment, each side wall516 has three inwardly extending side wall engagement fingers 530, withone side wall engagement finger 530 positioned approximately at themidpoint of the respective side wall 516, and one side wall engagementfinger 530 positioned at each end of the respective side wall 516,adjacent the rounded corner junction 534 joining that side wall 516 tothe adjacent side wall 516.

As can be seen, the upper engagement fingers 524 are in an offset,opposed relationship with the side wall engagement fingers 530. Thus,each upper engagement finger 524 is vertically spaced above, andhorizontally positioned between, two side wall engagement fingers 530,and, correspondingly, each side wall engagement finger 530 is verticallyspaced below, and horizontally positioned between, two upper engagementfingers 524.

The vertical spacing between the upper engagement fingers 524 and theside wall engagement fingers 530 corresponds to the vertical height ofthe terminal rim 60. This enables the lid 500 to be removably secured tothe exemplary produce container 10 by pushing the lid 500 generallydownward onto the closure portion 14 of the exemplary produce container10 so that the terminal rim 60 is received in an interference fitbetween the upper engagement fingers 524 and the side wall engagementfingers 530.

FIG. 7A shows exemplary engagement of the lower surface 532 of an upperengagement finger 524 with the upper surface 120 of the terminal rim 60,and FIG. 7B shows exemplary engagement of the sloping upper surface 538of a side wall engagement finger 530 with the lower edge 130 of theterminal rim 60. The generally triangular shape of the side wallengagement fingers 530, coupled with the flexible resilience of thematerial from which the lid 500 is constructed, facilitates securementof the lid 500 to, and removal of the lid 500 from, the exemplarycontainer 10. In particular, the upward slope of the lower surface 542of the side wall engagement fingers 530 allows them to more easily slidepast the upper surface 120 of the terminal rim 60 when the lid 500 isbeing secured, and the downward slope of the upper surface 538 of theside wall engagement fingers 530 allows them to more easily slide pastthe lower edge 130 of the terminal rim 60 when the lid 500 is beingremoved.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the illustrated embodiment,the upper engagement fingers 524 and the side wall engagement fingers530 are formed by a shaping of the lid material, so that the downwardprojection of the upper engagement fingers 524 results in acorresponding depression 550 in the upper surface of the relevant uppersupport surface 512, and the inward projection of the side wallengagement fingers 530 results in a corresponding indentation 552 in therelevant side wall 516.

The covering portion 504 has a plurality of apertures 560 definedtherein, adjacent the edges thereof, to further facilitate “breathing”by the produce. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the apertures 560 maybe positioned so as to leave a corner region 562 of the covering portion504 free of apertures 560, so that a generally triangular adhesive labelmay be applied to the corner region 562 without risk of the adhesiveunderside coming in contact with produce by way the apertures 560.

With reference now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, nesting of the exemplarycontainers for shipping, for example from a location of manufacture to alocation where produce will be placed in the containers 10, is shown. Asshown in FIG. 8A, a given container 10 is moved into the openconfiguration, with the basket portion peripheral lip 28 and the closureportion peripheral lip 68 being substantially parallel. Once soconfigured, several containers 10 can be stacked in a nested arrangementwithin a shipping container 800, as shown in FIG. 8B. More particularly,each closure portion 14 will nest inside the closure portion above it,and each basket portion 12 will nest inside the basket portion above it.

Containers according to aspects of the present invention, such asexemplary container 10, provide advantages in shipping.

Because the receiving slots 90 are defined inwardly of the outer surface92 of the front edge of the closure portion peripheral lip 68, the outersurface 92 of the front edge of the closure portion peripheral lip 68does not include any protrusions that would interfere with the fit ofthe container 10 within a shipping box (i.e. the outer surface 92 of thefront edge of the closure portion peripheral lip 68 will be flush withthe inside surface 802 of the shipping container. For the same reason,as noted above each locking projection 86 terminates inwardly of (i.e.does not extend beyond) the outer surface 108 of the front edge of thebasket portion peripheral lip 28.

Moreover, the use of the recesses 94 defined in the outer surface 92 ofthe front edge of the closure portion peripheral lip 68, and inparticular the recess engagement surface 96, allows the tabs 84 to beshortened, relative to a container in which the slots extend all the waythrough the closure portion peripheral lip 68, in which case the uppersurface of the closure portion peripheral lip would define theengagement surface for the locking projection 86. This shortening of thetabs 84 is reflected in the fact that, as noted above, each tab 84,including the locking projection thereof, terminates below (i.e. doesnot extend beyond) the upper surface 106 of the closure portionperipheral lip 68. When containers such as containers 10 are nested asshown in FIG. 8B, the tabs 84 on a given container 10 will abut theunderside of the basket portion peripheral rim 28 on the containerbelow, so that the shorter the tabs 84, the greater the number ofcontainers 10 that can be packed in a given shipping box 800.

Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment each tab 84 projects upwardlyfrom a position spaced inwardly from the outer surface 108 of the frontedge of the basket portion peripheral lip 28, and each lockingprojection 86 terminates inwardly of (i.e. does not extend beyond) theouter surface 108 of the basket portion peripheral lip 28.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C, which are dimensiondrawings for an embodiment of a produce container according to aspectsof the present invention. In FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C, reference letters A,B, C, . . . QQ, RR, SS have been used to denote various dimensions. Thechart below sets out the corresponding numerical dimensions of acurrently preferred embodiment of a produce container according toaspects of the present invention.

Reference Dimension A 248.0 millimeters B 121.3 millimeters C 121.3millimeters D 99.6 millimeters E 99.6 millimeters F 6.17 millimeters(radius) G 17.06 millimeters (radius) H 17.06 millimeters (radius) I11.0 millimeters J 35.3 millimeters K 3.3 millimeters L 5.5 millimetersM 47.1 millimeters N 47.1 millimeters O 3.3 millimeters P 5.5millimeters R 75.3 millimeters S 35.35 millimeters T 5.0 millimeters U0.9 millimeters V 1.1 millimeters W 5.8 millimeters X 3.0 millimeters Y5.0 millimeters (radius) Z 5.0 millimeters AA 25.9 millimeters BB 2.5millimeters CC 7 millimeters DD 0.9 millimeters EE 3.3 millimeters FF19.7 millimeters GG 3.0 millimeters HH 0.3 millimeters II 2.0millimeters JJ 9 degrees KK 6 degrees LL 5.0 millimeters MM 3.0millimeters NN 5.8 millimeters OO 5.0 millimeters PP 7.0 millimeters QQ32.5 millimeters RR 32.9 millimeters SS 75.3 millimeters

Reference is now made to FIGS. 10A and 10B, which are dimension drawingsfor an embodiment of a lid according to aspects of the presentinvention. In FIGS. 10A and 10B, reference letters AAA, BBB, CCC, . . .MMM have been used to denote various dimensions. The chart below setsout the corresponding numerical dimensions of a currently preferredembodiment of a lid according to aspects of the present invention, suchan embodiment being suitable for use with a produce container having thedimensions described above in the context of FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C.

Reference Dimension AAA 121.0 millimeters BBB 121.0 millimeters CCC23.05 millimeters DDD 81.0 millimeters EEE 23.05 millimeters FFF 10.0millimeters GGG 5.0 millimeters HHH 17.0 millimeters III 15.50millimeters (radius) JJJ 4.50 millimeters LLL 7.41 millimeters MMM 14.50millimeters

One or more currently preferred embodiments have been described by wayof example. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that anumber of variations and modifications can be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A produce container, comprising: a basketportion, the basket portion comprising a base and four basket portionwalls extending between the base and a basket portion peripheral lip,each basket portion wall being secured to each adjacent basket portionwall; a closure portion, the closure portion comprising a terminal rimand four closure portion walls extending between the terminal rim and aclosure portion peripheral lip, each closure portion wall being securedto each adjacent closure portion wall; wherein the basket portionperipheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip are hingedlysecured to one another at respective rear edges thereof so that thebasket portion and the closure portion are relatively movable between anopen configuration and a closed configuration in which the basketportion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip are inregistration with one another; and wherein: one of the basket portionperipheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip has at least onetab projecting distally from a front edge thereof, each at least one tabincluding an outwardly extending locking projection; a front edge of theother of the basket portion peripheral lip and the closure portionperipheral lip includes at least one receiving slot defined inwardly ofan outer surface of a front edge of the other of the basket portionperipheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip for receiving acorresponding tab, each receiving slot extending into a collocatedrecess defined in the outer surface of a front edge of the other of thebasket portion peripheral lip and the closure portion peripheral lip andhaving a recess engagement surface; so that, when the basket portion andthe closure portion are in the closed configuration, the at least onetab is received within the at least one corresponding receiving slot sothat each respective locking projection extends into the respectiverecess and an engagement surface on the respective locking projectioncooperates with the respective recess engagement surface to secure thecontainer in the closed configuration, each respective lockingprojection terminating inwardly of the outer surface of the front edgeof the other of the basket portion peripheral lip and the closureportion peripheral lip and each tab terminating spaced from a distalsurface of the other of the basket portion peripheral lip and theclosure portion peripheral lip.
 2. The produce container of claim 1,wherein: the at least one tab projects upwardly from the front edge ofthe basket portion peripheral lip; and the at least one receiving slotis defined in the outer surface of the front edge of the closure portionperipheral lip and terminates below the upper surface of the closureportion peripheral lip.
 3. The produce container of claim 2, whereineach at least one tab projects upwardly from a position spaced inwardlyfrom an outer surface of the basket portion peripheral lip, and whereineach locking projection terminates inwardly of the outer surface of thebasket portion peripheral lip.
 4. The produce container of claim 3,wherein the receiving slots are defined in a lower surface of the frontedge of the closure portion peripheral lip and extend through theclosure portion peripheral lip into their respective recesses.
 5. Theproduce container of claim 4, wherein the closure portion peripheral lipincludes backing regions of increased thickness projecting inwardly, thebacking regions being collocated with the receiving slots and comprisingpart of an inner surface of the front edge of the closure portionperipheral lip.
 6. The produce container of claim 5, wherein the atleast one tab comprises two tabs spaced from one another and the atleast one receiving slot comprises two receiving slots spaced from oneanother.
 7. The produce container of claim 6, wherein: each tab has aheight of approximately 5 millimeters, measured from an upper surface ofthe basket portion peripheral lip; the front edge of the closure portionperipheral lip has a height of approximately 7 millimeters, measuredfrom the lower surface of the closure portion peripheral lip to theupper surface of the closure portion peripheral lip; and the recessesextend downwardly from the upper surface of the closure portionperipheral lip by approximately 4.5 millimeters.
 8. The producecontainer of claim 6, wherein the basket portion and the closure portioncollectively define approximately a one-quart volume.
 9. The producecontainer of claim 2, further comprising a lid removably secured to theterminal rim.
 10. The produce container of claim 9, having a quantity ofproduce disposed therein.
 11. The produce container of claim 10, whereinthe produce is strawberries.
 12. A lid for a produce container having agenerally square terminal rim forming part of a closure portion of theproduce container, comprising: a substantially square, substantiallyplanar covering portion having four edges; four spacing walls dependingdownwardly from the edges of the covering portion; each spacing wallcontinuing into an outwardly extending upper support surface which issubstantially parallel to the covering portion so that there are fourupper support surfaces, the four upper support surfaces being,collectively, co-extensive with an upper surface of the terminal rim ofthe container, each upper support surface having defined therein aplurality of downwardly extending upper engagement fingers; each uppersupport surface continuing into a substantially downwardly extendingside wall so that there are four such side walls, the side wallsterminating in a generally outwardly extending peripheral skirt, eachside wall having a plurality of inwardly extending side wall engagementfingers; wherein: the upper engagement fingers are vertically spacedfrom the side wall engagement fingers by a distance corresponding to thevertical height of the terminal rim, and the lid is removably securableto the container by an interference fit of the terminal rim between theupper engagement fingers and the side wall engagement fingers.
 13. Thelid of claim 12, wherein the upper engagement fingers and the side wallengagement fingers are in an offset, opposed relationship so that eachupper engagement finger is vertically spaced above, and horizontallypositioned between, two side wall engagement fingers, and each side wallengagement finger is vertically spaced below, and horizontallypositioned between, two upper engagement fingers.
 14. The lid of claim13, wherein two spaced-apart upper engagement fingers are disposed oneach upper support surface, and one upper engagement finger ispositioned at each corner junction joining adjacent upper supportsurfaces, and wherein each side wall has three inwardly extending sidewall engagement fingers, one side wall engagement finger beingpositioned approximately at a midpoint of the respective side wall, andone side wall engagement finger being positioned at each end of therespective side wall.
 15. The lid of claim 13, wherein each of the sidewall engagement fingers has a generally triangular shape, including adownwardly sloping upper surface and an upwardly sloping lower surface.16. The lid of claim 12, wherein the covering portion has a plurality ofapertures defined therein adjacent the edges of the covering portion,the apertures being positioned so as to define a corner region of thecovering portion that is free of apertures, further comprising agenerally triangular adhesive label applied to the corner region.